1968 engines
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1968 engines
Have a 68 vette. I know the engine is not original. The vin only tells me that it is a 68 convertible. No tank sticker.
It does have a 6500 RPM red line tach that is original. It also has the transistorized ignition. Also must have 411 gears as it is right at 3k at 60 MPH. The only option on the car is power brakes.
Anyone know what engines came with the 6.5k tach and transistorized ignition?
It does have a 6500 RPM red line tach that is original. It also has the transistorized ignition. Also must have 411 gears as it is right at 3k at 60 MPH. The only option on the car is power brakes.
Anyone know what engines came with the 6.5k tach and transistorized ignition?
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Joined: Dec 2012
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wow I might have something here
my parents purchased this car in 1976. It has a small block engine in now but at the time (1976) the seller said they took out the original engine and put this one in. The seller said it was an LT1 engine. The intent was to use it for racing. All hearsay as I was like 10 at the time. The engine number in it now is
CE3A85. What I know for now it is a very healthy solid lifter SB.
The car does have an L88 hood that I just assumed was aftermarket.
With out the tank sticker is there a way to confirm what engine it was born with?
Thanks for the help
my parents purchased this car in 1976. It has a small block engine in now but at the time (1976) the seller said they took out the original engine and put this one in. The seller said it was an LT1 engine. The intent was to use it for racing. All hearsay as I was like 10 at the time. The engine number in it now is
CE3A85. What I know for now it is a very healthy solid lifter SB.
The car does have an L88 hood that I just assumed was aftermarket.
With out the tank sticker is there a way to confirm what engine it was born with?
Thanks for the help
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Taunton Ma
As far as rarity the L88 would be the rarest. Not many were made and it is very doubtful that you have an L88. As far as the L71 and the L89 the one that is the rarest would be the L89 with a little research you could find the production numbers. Unless you have some paper work or the tank sticker there really is no way of telling for sure what it left the factory with.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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looking into it more i'm sure, as said before, it is not an L88. It does have an AM/FM radio and a heater. I don't think L88s came with those.
Mike asked a valid question. I just assume the tack and the distributor are original to the car. I do not have any concrete proof ... yet
The car has been in the family since 1973, not 1976 like I thought. Nothing has been changed in that time. I think it is reasonable to assume that the tach is original. It is also reasonable to think when they changed engines they swapped out the distributor to keep the tack drive.
I won't see the car again for a couple of months. When I do I will see what other numbers I can dig up. Trans, rear end, distributor.
Maybe I will learn something from those numbers as well.
sure would be nice if you could tell something from the vin.
Mike asked a valid question. I just assume the tack and the distributor are original to the car. I do not have any concrete proof ... yet
The car has been in the family since 1973, not 1976 like I thought. Nothing has been changed in that time. I think it is reasonable to assume that the tach is original. It is also reasonable to think when they changed engines they swapped out the distributor to keep the tack drive.
I won't see the car again for a couple of months. When I do I will see what other numbers I can dig up. Trans, rear end, distributor.
Maybe I will learn something from those numbers as well.
sure would be nice if you could tell something from the vin.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You can tell model, body style, and about when the car was assembled (consecutive unit number), but that's about all. VIN will break down:
1 Chevrolet
9 Corvette
4 V8 engine, but nothing specific
67 body styple code for convertibles
8 model year
S plant code for St. Louis, Missouri
4 car line series code. All 68s have this 4.
xxxxx consecutive unit number.
1 Chevrolet
9 Corvette
4 V8 engine, but nothing specific
67 body styple code for convertibles
8 model year
S plant code for St. Louis, Missouri
4 car line series code. All 68s have this 4.
xxxxx consecutive unit number.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Dec 13, 2012 at 03:38 PM.
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wow time flys. from the last post being a couple years ago.
Anyway had a great time driving the car this weekend. I did get a picture of the stamping on the engine. Can anyone decode or have a reasonable estimate to what the engine is?
Anyway had a great time driving the car this weekend. I did get a picture of the stamping on the engine. Can anyone decode or have a reasonable estimate to what the engine is?
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Race Director
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This is an over the counter GM short block sold in that year. No further decoding is available.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
No BB here
Its a small block car with apparently a solid lifter one at that...Tach red line indicates that....Unique thing about 68`s is the 5 year warantee on the drive train....and the TI ignition was merely an option for all engines, BB or SB
L-88`s, aren't they all L-88`s....
L-88`s, aren't they all L-88`s....
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Thanks guys!
It is staring to make some sense. The car was purchased in 1973 with what the owner owner claimed was a new LT1 engine. I dont think they made an LT1 in 1973. The other stamp on the pad calls out 79. Could one assume it was an L79 replaced under warranty?
It has crane roller rocker arms with a solid lifter cam. Maybe the original owner installed the cam in the L79 and called it an Lt1.
Car sellers woundnt lie would they?
It is staring to make some sense. The car was purchased in 1973 with what the owner owner claimed was a new LT1 engine. I dont think they made an LT1 in 1973. The other stamp on the pad calls out 79. Could one assume it was an L79 replaced under warranty?
It has crane roller rocker arms with a solid lifter cam. Maybe the original owner installed the cam in the L79 and called it an Lt1.
Car sellers woundnt lie would they?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: TN
LT1's
Thanks guys!
It is staring to make some sense. The car was purchased in 1973 with what the owner owner claimed was a new LT1 engine. I dont think they made an LT1 in 1973. The other stamp on the pad calls out 79. Could one assume it was an L79 replaced under warranty?
It has crane roller rocker arms with a solid lifter cam. Maybe the original owner installed the cam in the L79 and called it an Lt1.
Car sellers woundnt lie would they?
It is staring to make some sense. The car was purchased in 1973 with what the owner owner claimed was a new LT1 engine. I dont think they made an LT1 in 1973. The other stamp on the pad calls out 79. Could one assume it was an L79 replaced under warranty?
It has crane roller rocker arms with a solid lifter cam. Maybe the original owner installed the cam in the L79 and called it an Lt1.
Car sellers woundnt lie would they?
Check the engine cast block numbers on the drivers side rear flange of your 68's current engine, it will tell you if it is a 350 or 327.
If your 68's engine is a LT1 enjoy it, I sure enjoy my 68's original L79 327/350.
Perhaps the previous owner of your 68 could not afford the cost of a LS7 and bought the available LT1.
I have a CE engine block in my original owner 1970. The original engine was defective and destroyed the first 15 minutes of ownership when bought new in August 1970 and it was sitting on the showroom floor the previous day. 160K on the CE engine now. I removed the running CE engine for the ZZ crate engines horsepower that is still in it today.
I found my 1968's order sheet behind the radio and my 1970 order sheet above the tack.
Last edited by 70ZZ3 96LT4; Aug 18, 2014 at 07:24 PM.
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This is such great info !!
I will check the block numbers the next time I am under it.
I will also check behind the radio for any paperwork. the original am/fm is still in there so there is a good chance it could be there
I will also get those distributor numbers.
All in all whatever it is I had a blast this past weekend. Full tank of 110 octane leaded fuel. All day cruzing around with nowhere to go and no certain time to be back. One of those days I will remember for the rest of my life.
I will check the block numbers the next time I am under it.
I will also check behind the radio for any paperwork. the original am/fm is still in there so there is a good chance it could be there
I will also get those distributor numbers.
All in all whatever it is I had a blast this past weekend. Full tank of 110 octane leaded fuel. All day cruzing around with nowhere to go and no certain time to be back. One of those days I will remember for the rest of my life.
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From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
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From: near Nuremberg Bavaria
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This car is also used very infrequently. It is likely it will be a year or more on one tank. I dont want the ethanol gas in there that long.
Thanks all for all the info. I have lots of things to check out.
I will not have a chance to check it out for a few months.